Friends of the Earth Scotland, Scotland's leading independent environmental campaigning charity, today announced the appointment of Stan Blackley as the organisation's new Chief Executive.

Mr Blackley comes to Friends of the Earth Scotland after eleven years of running his own ethical campaigning communications consultancy, and with more than two decades experience of working within the environment and sustainability movement as a campaigner and communications professional.

Stan Blackley, the new Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:

"I'm delighted to have been appointed as Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland. This is an exciting time to be entering this post, with a new political landscape in Scotland and considerable potential to ensure the Scottish Government is held to account in moving towards a low carbon economy.

"We will work to achieve this by holding the new SNP government to its manifesto commitments, and working with politicians of all colours in the next session of the Scottish Parliament to ensure that they retain and work towards their parties' stated commitments to reduce carbon emissions, protect and enhance the Scottish environment and tackle environmental justice."

Chris Revie, Chair of the Board of Friends of the Earth Scotland, added:

"We are delighted that Stan has accepted our invitation to lead the organisation at this important time.

"We want to help communities around the country protect and enhance their local environment, ensure that Scottish Government sticks to its commitments on climate change, and that the benefits of this are reaped by all parts of society."

Stan Blackley is taking over the leadership of the environmental charity after Duncan McLaren, who led the organisation for eight years in a period when Scotland introduced the world's first climate change act.

Notes to Editors

More information on Stan Blackley, including a brief CV and portrait images, are available on request.

Friends of the Earth Scotland is * Scotland’s leading environmental campaigning organisation * An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland * Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 77 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups - covering every continent. www.foe-scotland.org.uk